Harrison Smith is working hard to return by next week from the I/R

Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return after he suffered turf toe on his left foot, said he still plans to be back for the Vikings’ final three games of the season.

Harrison Smith is eligible to start practicing next Wednesday, at which point he’ll be able to see whether he’s able to return on Dec. 15 against Philadelphia. He has been running on an underwater treadmill

“It’s amazing how out of shape you can get in a few weeks,” he said — and will get a MRI on his foot in the near future. But at this point, Smith sees no reason to think he won’t be back to help the Vikings finish the season. Even when we come in for training camp, you can be in the best shape you think you can be in and it’s still not football shape,” Smith said. “So I think you’ve just got to play into [it] through practice.’’

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